Poll

Should software EULAs be considered valid or should software just be under copyright law like books?

EULAs should be explicitly legallized by legislation
0 (0%)
EULAs should be allowed but the terms restricted by legislation
0 (0%)
Special copyright laws should be set up for software
2 (12.5%)
EULAs should be declared invalid and software regulated like other copyrighted material.
10 (62.5%)
None of the above
1 (6.3%)
Blame Punisher.
3 (18.8%)

Total Members Voted: 16

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Topic: Software EULA Yes or No?  (Read 1691 times)

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Online Nemesis

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Software EULA Yes or No?
« on: June 25, 2008, 07:00:33 am »
Software EULAs (End user license agreements) have recently been a topic of discusion here.  (In this thread for example).  I'm curious what the feelings of people are on the topic.

Should software EULAs be considered valid or should software just be under copyright law like books?

Option 1: EULAs should be explicitly legalized by legislation

In other words do you think that the EULA system as in place is reasonable and should be explicitly made legal rather than just the assumption of legality that we have now?

Option 2: EULAs should be allowed but the terms restricted by legislation

Should they be legalized but laws put in place to restrict the terms.  For example you might wish to remove the terms that often prohibit reviews of software without the permission of the authors (which blocks negative reviews)  Let us know in what way you think they should be restricted.

Option 3: Special copyright laws should be set up for software
 
In essence you think that software is sufficiently different from other types of copyrightied materials and needs special rules.  Please post what you think they need as special protections or restriction.

Option 4: EULAs should be declared invalid and software regulated like other copyrighted material.

My choice.  You think that software authors should not be able to use the system of EULAs currently in place to restrict the rights of customers beyond what copyright law itself restricts them.

Option 5: None of the above

You think my poll missed the boat in some way and believe another option should have been there.  Please let me know what you think I missed.

Option 6: Blame Punisher.

Obviously it is his fault but not really relevant to the discusion.
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Offline Dracho

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2008, 08:27:31 am »
Steganography is an easy way to track copyrighted material in electronic form.  Software is no different than any other intellectual property and it is not the judicial system's responsibility to make special accomodations so that companies can make their business processes easier.
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Online Nemesis

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2008, 07:59:49 pm »
There haven't been many votes yet but so far most are in favour of putting software under the same rules as books and invalidating the EULA concept.

Quote
Special copyright laws should be set up for software     - 2 (16.7%)

Anyone care to explain what special laws they feel should be set up for software?
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Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline Centurus

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2008, 10:06:03 pm »
I can't blame Punisher.  For one simple reason.  I'm sometimes his supplier.  If I blame him, he'll more than likely take me down with him.

Also at night when having dinner I'd never hear the end of it.

 ;D
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Offline Centurus

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2008, 10:06:42 pm »
Quote from: F9thCenturus on June 27, 2008, 10:06:03 pm
I can't blame Punisher.  For one simple reason.  I'm sometimes his supplier.  If I blame him, he'll more than likely take me down with him.

Also at night when having dinner I'd never hear the end of it.

 ;D

In case some of you didn't get it, the crack about Punisher is a joke.  *gets the feeling that some people still won't get it*
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Online Nemesis

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2008, 08:18:05 am »
Quote from: F9thCenturus on June 27, 2008, 10:06:42 pm
In case some of you didn't get it, the crack about Punisher is a joke.  *gets the feeling that some people still won't get it*

Don't worry Centurus we all know you cracked years ago.
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Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline toasty0

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2008, 08:32:59 am »
I too blame Punisher.

It seemed the saner choice.
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Offline Centurus

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Re: Software EULA Yes or No?
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2008, 01:17:48 pm »
Quote from: IKV Nemesis on June 28, 2008, 08:18:05 am
Quote from: F9thCenturus on June 27, 2008, 10:06:42 pm
In case some of you didn't get it, the crack about Punisher is a joke.  *gets the feeling that some people still won't get it*

Don't worry Centurus we all know you cracked years ago.

*dies laughing at Nemesis cause Nem thinks he was sane once*
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The pen is truly mightier than the sword.  And considerably easier to write with.
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